Hunt for crossbow hitman who hid weapon inside parcel then shot woman as she opened her door

Canadian police are hunting a man who posed as a deliveryman and shot a woman with a crossbow, in what has been labelled a "premeditated" and "targeted" attack.

Key points:

The suspected hitman hid the crossbow inside a large cardboard box and fired it into the victim's chest

The woman survived, but has been left with "life-altering" injuries, police said

Police said the crossbow was typically used by hunters to kill moose and deer

Black-and-white home surveillance footage, released by Peel Regional Police on Monday, shows the assailant standing outside the victim's door in Mississauga, Ontario, an area north of Toronto, on November 7 last year.

He is seen holding a large cardboard box, inside of which police said he had hidden a crossbow.

After the 44-year-old victim opened the door, a brief conversation ensued before the man fired the weapon into the woman's chest and fled on foot, Superintendent Heather Raymor said, leaving her with "life-threatening and life-altering" injuries.

"This was not a random act. Comments that were made to the victim by the suspect indicate that [she was targeted]," Superintendent Raymor said in a press conference.

"The suspect may have carried out the attack at the request of another individual.

"It is clear that this attack was meant to end the victim's life."

The victim spent several months in hospital, Detective Sergeant Jim Kettles added, and she will "be in a recovery phase for the rest of her life".

Superintendent Raymor said the particular type of crossbow used in the attack, designed to "inflict the maximum amount of damage possible", was typically used by hunters to kill large game, including moose and deer.

The suspect, who is now wanted on attempted murder charges, was wearing a distinct baseball cap and shoes, police said.